County Historical Society reviews accomplishments

Cabin restoration is next project

November 22, 2013

You could almost say the Emmet County Historical Society isn't just recording and preserving history - it's making it as well.

At its 49th annual meeting Friday, Nov. 15, the Society conducted its yearly business and heard a fascinating presentation from Dan Nelson whose grandfather was born in the cabin that now stands on the east side of the museum grounds across from Iowa Lakes Community College on South 18th Street.

In the first order of business, the Society approved Mary Gray, Don Koons and Mildred Bryan as board members then heard a rundown on projects over the past year from Bryan.

Those projects included siding the Palestine Church, thanks to a $3,000 grant from the Emmet County Community Foundation. Other work on the church includes putting on a new front door and carpeting the entryway. Bryan said a wedding was held at the church this past spring and the church again hosted services during the Emmet County Fair.

Bryan said work has just started on the Nels Brujeld cabin, with both the church and cabin project benefitting from a fundraiser dinner at the VFW this fall.

Bryan said the military section was basically done at the Greig building and that there's a makeover on the museum library. She said Doreene Hansen has put together a notebook of county history for research and that Jeanne Egeland was compiling obituaries.

A door was also replaced on the Bolstad School and an awning erected over the sliding door on the Farm Heritage Building. She said Modern Woodmen had donated trees.

Bryan said the Society put out new pamphlets through a $750 Estherville Area Chamber of Commerce Shout it Out grant.

The Society participated in parades during Sweet Corn Days, the Wallingford Centennial, the Armstrong Fourth of July celebration and Graettinger Labor Day celebration.

Restorations included a two-seater buggy and a baler donated by the Schacherer family. There was also a book signing at the museum this year.

Another big success was the downtown block walk done with the Emmet County Genealogy Society.

"We sure can't forget our board members - all the work that they've done," Bryan added.

Guest speaker Dan Nelson said his grandfather William was born in the cabin at the museum. Dan said William was born May 23, 1877 and confirmed in 1892. William had lived in the Dakotas and moved back to the area. He still has William's bible and a railroad ticket from Wallingford to Emmetsburg dated 1903.

Nelson said Nels Brujeld's son took the name Nelson while Peter Brujeld's son took the name Peterson, making him a relative of Nordein and Paul Peterson - but with a different last name.